Rivers 2023: Abe Says 2023 Election Will Change The Nation’s Political History

By Akinwale Kasali

The Rivers State Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Magnus Abe, has said that the 2023 General Election will change the political narratives in the country.

He added that the election would be a watershed event in the political history of Nigeria, as there would be a political tsunami in Rivers State, as it would break known barriers.

Senator Abe made this assertion at the official commissioning of the SDP constituency office in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

A statement by his Spokesman, Parry Benson, said, “To all of us that are here, I will deliver one important message.

“I have said severally that 2023 elections will be a watershed event in the political history of this country. In Rivers State, 2023 elections will be a political tsunami because it will break every known bounds and barrier.

“Let me say to all of you that our votes, our support in 2023 will enshrine justice, fairness, equity and progress in this land.

“Everybody that wakes up in the morning is looking for progress. Progress is not when the state is rich, progress is when you make money for yourself; that is progress.”

Abe further said gone were the days when elections were won and lost along political party lines, noting that a lot of things had happened in the country and people had also learnt their lessons.

“Before, Nigerians used to vote on the basis of political party, so this is our party we must support the party, anybody they bring they vote, but things have happened in this country that people must learn as lessons.

“Before, when we followed a party you knew what you’d get when you supported that party. If you were in the UPN and your state voted the UPN, you knew you would get free education.

“If you were in the NPN, and your state voted the NPN, you knew you would get housing and agriculture, but since after those parties left, Nigerians continue to vote party, but nobody could see what they were getting.

“Today if you are in Akwa Ibom, you vote the Peoples Democratic Party, what you get depends on what the governor wants. If you are in Oyo, you vote the PDP what you get depends on what the governor wants.

“If you’re in Kano and you vote All Progressives Congress, what you get depends on what the governor wants. If you are in plateau you vote the APC what you get depends on what the governor wants. Nobody checks what the party said or what the party is doing.

Earlier, Chikwem Orlu, the candidate of the SDP in Obio/Akpor Constituency 2, assured Senator Abe and party members of the people’s commitment to vote the party massively in the 2023 general election.

“Your Excellency, the people you are seeing here today are teeming supporters of project the SMA (Senator Magnus Abe).

“My business this evening is very simple; it’s just to tell you that this people you are seeing here today, have unanimously agreed that no one vote will go to another party other than the SDP on whose platform you will be the Governor of Rivers State come 2023 by the grace of God,” he said.

Abe, a Lawyer, was the  Secretary to the Rivers State Government under the administration of then Governor Chibuike Amaechi.

He later went to the Senate. The two of them later fell apart so badly that in 2019, it robbed their Party, the All Progressives Congress, of participation in the election. All their candidates were disqualified.

A couple of months ago, Abe quit the APC for the SDP, and finally picked its Governorship ticket which was consistently denied him  in the APC.